LANEWAY FESTIVAL
rejects NSW Government’s categorisation
of Sydney event as ‘high risk’
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LOVE FOR LANEWAY
“Once again, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival proved itself to be the envy of summer festivals. A well behaved crowd, an awesome location, a perfect day and an exciting line-up. They do a festival as it should be done and we’re pumped for next year already.” – The Music
“St Jerome’s Laneway Festival managed something a lot of large-scale music events struggle to: it presented an impressive line-up of diverse, alternative acts without being chaotic or intimidating. One positive new addition to the festival was DanceWize, an outreach program providing non-judgemental, safe spaces at music festivals and reducing substance-related harm through education. They also had us sorted for sunscreen and water, offered a boatload of advice and helpful literature about safe recreational drug use, and provided an LGBTQIA-friendly space with camp beds and a chill out area where volunteers helped take steps to address any problems related to drug and alcohol use, harassment or sexual assault.” – TimeOut Sydney
“If the majority of Laneway’s crowd is anything to go by, we’re headed in the right direction to a destination where everyone feels safe, loved and able to party.” – Purple Sneakers
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Late on Friday night, one of the country’s most established and beloved music events, Laneway Festival, received a notification from the NSW Government that it had been categorised as ‘high risk’. This classification – which was assigned without reference to any assessment guidelines – means that the festival will be subject to as yet unknown regulation by the Department of Liquor and Gaming. It has the potential to cause untold brand and reputational damage and the festival is considering its legal position in relation to this.
The national event has been running successfully in Sydney for almost 15 years. Over 35,000 music lovers have attended the event over the past three years. A total of two people have presented to hospital for known drug or alcohol related issues in that same period.
Organiser Danny Rogers says: “It’s preposterous that Laneway is categorised as high risk. We are regularly praised for expert operations by the local police, health departments and councillors and attending media. Our audiences are fantastic. They come for the world-class local and international artists.
We are angry that the NSW Government is so dismissive of the industry who contribute so much to the state’s economy and culture. It is a short-sighted political move that panders to the conservative media and vote.
If Laneway can be categorised as high risk without any reference to the Government’s own poorly-defined criteria, then there is a risk that all contemporary music festivals could be categorised in the same way. We implore all our friends of the festival to contact your local representatives and let them know how you feel. Let’s make some noise!”
The Government should note the below letter, which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald the day after this year’s event:
Good vibes at Laneway
“I was lucky enough to attend Sunday’s Laneway Festival, Callan Park, Rozelle.
Even though our group were old enough to be most of the young people’s parents it was wonderful to see so many young musicians singing passionately about important issues.
How inspiring it was to see young people dancing, drinking, smiling and enjoying the music in the company of friends old and new in such a lovely setting. Few signs at all of misbehaviour, heavy security, intoxication or anything to spoil the vibe on a stunning Sydney summer’s afternoon. Hats off to all involved for a glorious celebration of youth culture – shame you’re probably unlikely to read about it.” – John Maynard, Erskineville (Letter to the Editor, SMH, 05 Feb 2019, p.21)
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Connect with LANEWAY
Instagram –Website
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AMNPLIFY – DB
My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
Amnplify your experience. That is what we want you to do here, and if you want to let me know why you do, or don’t, shoot me a message on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.
